CGL Research Methodology Flashcards

How should a CGL lecturer explain the difference between 'primary' and 'secondary' information to students?

Answer: Primary information is provided by someone with firsthand knowledge; secondary information comes from someone without direct knowledge

The distinction rests on the informant's knowledge — whether they personally knew the facts recorded at the time of the event.

Which genealogical research strategy involves working from known facts to unknown ancestors?

Answer: The reasonably exhaustive search strategy, working from present to past

Working from the known to the unknown is a foundational genealogical principle that prevents skipping generations and building on unverified assumptions.

What is 'cluster research' and why is it taught in CGL lecture contexts?

Answer: Researching an individual's associates, neighbors, and relatives to find clues about the target ancestor

Cluster research leverages the social networks of ancestors to break through brick walls when direct records are missing.

When evaluating conflicting evidence in genealogical research, what should a researcher do first?

Answer: Determine the reliability of each source by examining the informant's knowledge and the source type

Evaluating each source's origin, informant knowledge, and information type is essential before deciding which evidence to weight more heavily.

What does a 'proof argument' in genealogy require that a 'proof summary' does not?

Answer: A written discussion explaining how conflicting or indirect evidence was resolved to reach a conclusion

A proof argument is needed when the conclusion requires reconciling conflicting evidence or inferring from indirect evidence, going beyond a simple summary.

Which US record type is most commonly used to identify a woman's maiden name when no birth or baptismal record exists?

Answer: All of the above are commonly used in combination

No single record type is definitive, so genealogists typically correlate marriage records, death certificates, and land deeds to identify a maiden name.